TOP GAMES FOR 2009

Behold the 11 games that we’re looking forward to the most in 2009. Yes, 11. Because 2009 is going to be one louder.
In choosing the games that should make waves this year, GameLife contributors Nate Ralph, Earnest Cavalli, Chris Baker and I made sure to select titles that we were personally excited about.
The types of games that pack the most appeal will naturally be different for each of us. For example, Nate is too young to remember Punch-Out!!, but when I get the Wii version of the game, I am going to tear open the shrink-wrap with my teeth.
We also tried to constrain this list to games that will actually come out this year. So no Alan Wake, no God of War III and certainly no Duke Nukem Forever.
With these factors in mind, we present the 11 most anticipated games of 2009. Time to sharpen your incisors.

This revival of Nintendo’s classic puzzle-sports-rhythmic-punching game has been a very long time coming. The original is probably my favorite 8-bit game ever, and no boxing game has ever been as much fun. Probably because Punch-Out!! never had anything to do with boxing. It was about perfecting your twitch reactions while trying not to fall over laughing at the ridiculous ethnic stereotype cartoons that served as your opponents.
Punch-Out!! for Wii will continue that storied tradition: Watch the croissants fly from Glass Joe as he’s knocked to the canvas. Will the addictive gameplay be as perfectly replicated? I hope and pray that it will. The game might go off the rails if it makes too much use of Wii waggle controls and feels too much like a Wii Fit exercise minigame. But the return of Punch-Out!! is reason enough to get excited

Fact: Sucker Punch makes excellent action games — the Sly Cooper series was a great addition to Sony’s PlayStation 2 lineup. Fact: Grand Theft Auto plus superpowers can equal an amazing experience — I don’t think I need to remind anyone of Crackdown.
Sucker Punch is billing Infamous as the ultimate superhero simulator, a game that lets you choose your path, saving the city or wreaking destruction. I’m really interested to see how the story plays out and how the open world environment is used — is it just window dressing for your destructive amusement, or will you really feel like the most powerful being in a living, breathing world? We know so little about how Infamous will play, but as it is likely to be Sony’s marquee title for 2009, I imagine we will be hearing a lot about it.

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and the Damned (Xbox 360)
I’m sick of hanging out with Niko Bellic. I mean, I know he had a rough adolescence in Serbia and all, but that can only excuse so much murderous, sociopathic behavior. But man, oh man, I sure do miss kicking it in Liberty City. What a place! The sights, the sounds, the insane stunt jumps and plentiful rocket launchers! I’m itching for the chance to visit again, this time in the company of grizzled biker Johnny Klebitz.
The new Xbox 360 downloadable expansion to GTA IV offers a lengthy new narrative, and upgrades my favorite virtual metropolis with new weapons, missions, vehicles and multiplayer modes. What’s that you say? Klebitz is probably a murderous sociopath just like Niko? Yeah, well … as long as he doesn’t have an annoying cousin that’s always phoning him, I think I can put up with that.

Resident Evil 5 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
Until we zombie purists convince George Romero to open a game development studio, Capcom Entertainment is our best substitute in the pixelized fight against the undead. Metal Gear Solid 4-level visual polish, a nicely modified strain of the Resident Evil 4 control scheme, online co-operative multiplayer and the woefully underrepresented setting of the African Savannah all indicate that Resident Evil 5 almost has to be something special.
Honestly, I’m just giddy for a chance to pop off heavy munitions into the brains of some undead foes. At the end of a long workday, nothing is more satisfying than the wholesale slaughter of shambling hordes

The Beatles Game (Multiplatform)
We don’t know what it’ll look like, how it’ll play or even what it’ll be called. But Harmonix’s collaboration with The Beatles is the odds-on favorite to be the biggest thing to happen to videogames, and maybe even music, in 2009.
The creators of Guitar Hero and Rock Band have turned millions of gamers into faux rockers with plastic instruments, letting non-musicians experience the joy of jamming. And what better way to put on a show in your living room than with the legendary music of the greatest band of all time? Harmonix is forgoing Rock Band 3 this year to concentrate its efforts on re-creating the Fab Four’s music in interactive form. Even if this were just downloadable content for Rock Band, it would be one of the best things to happen this year. As a standalone game, it’ll be unstoppable. (As long as Harmonix includes an option to sing the entire B side of Abbey Road without stopping, I’ll be happy.)

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (Windows)
For more than two decades, the tabletop game Warhammer 40,000 has captivated countless fans with relentless miniature figurine battles waged between hyper-religious superhuman space fascists, space Orks, space Elves and savage, genetically engineered insect-things that are also from space.
The transition to the real-time strategy genre on the PC went fairly well, but the onset of sequel-itis has left the original Dawn of War looking a bit tired. Fortunately, Relic Entertainment is bringing players back to the basics with Dawn of War II — namely, control of small, elite squads embroiled in close-quarters combat, with a number of traditional RPG mechanics rolled in. Dawn of War’s gleefully excessive brutality and visual flair have been revamped, adding tantalizing levels of detail to the act of vigorously throttling enemy units before hurling them through the air like a large, wet sack. There will also be bits of traditional base-building and resource gathering on the multiplayer side of things, but confess: We’re all really in it for jetpacks and chainsaw-swords.

BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC)
I’m anticipating this game in the sense that I’m anxiously holding my breath. 2K says that BioShock can be its Star Wars, meaning that this episode could be as awesome as The Empire Strikes Back. But the original BioShock worked so well because it had such a unique story. Will a trip back into the world of Big Daddies and Little Sisters be as interesting this time around, now that we’ve already experienced it?
More worrisome than that: Will the fact that Ken Levine and 2K Boston are passing off development to the new 2K Marin studio in Northern California change things? Developing the BioShock sequel is a tall order for a rookie developer. The original’s blend of intelligent political commentary and riveting human drama had me hooked, and I’d fall in love with a game that managed to recapture that feeling. I can’t wait to find out if Sea of Dreams can pull it off.

Dark Void (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows)
Gears of War’s cover system is getting a bit tired these days, so when I heard at E3 that Capcom’s upcoming shooter Dark Void lifts it, I had to stop myself from yawning. But then the developer giving the demo twisted the camera angle to reveal that we weren’t walking down some dark hallway blasting enemies — we were flying up the side of a tower, leaping from cover point to cover point courtesy of a very Rocketeer-ish jetpack.
Moments later, the protagonist leaped off the side of the tower, cutting a beeline toward a wildly maneuvering metal disc. Try as it might, the disc couldn’t get out of his path, and when he alighted on top of the frame, a familiar sequence of button presses popped up just as they might in God of War. Triangle, X, Square and the craft’s pilot had been beaten soundly and thrown from the disc — only to have his ride hijacked, Grand Theft Auto-style, by our hero. Three minutes of gameplay and Dark Void had cemented itself in my mind as the sleeper hit of 2009.

StarCraft II (Windows, Mac)
Let’s review: The original StarCraft, released in March of 1998, was one of the deepest, best balanced, most addictive real-time strategy games ever made. It had three richly varied races, an actual story and near-limitless potential for strategic variations. Now, Blizzard Entertainment — a developer that has never released a bad game — is finishing up a sequel with gorgeous graphics, new unit types and abilities, and improved online matchmaking.
What’s not to anticipate about StarCraft II? I mean, except for the fact that I’ll be losing my job and my friends and getting scurvy because the game will end up devouring every waking moment of my life. Some people are griping because Blizzard has already announced plans to hold back some content for expansion packs. But come on, do you really think you won’t get your money’s worth? People are still playing the original, 11 years later.

GTA NEW

New GTA IV: The Lost And Damned

Check out this trailer for the newest Grand Theft Auto release called The Lost and Damned. Interesting. I am guessing, solely from this title, that the player will be lost in some sandbox type world saying the word “Dammit” a lot. I know if I was lost somewhere, I would do exactly that. Rockstar has some clever folks in their mists, very genius of them with this title choice

cdv USA has announced Divinity 2: Ego Draconis for a release date of January 5, 2010 in the U.S. on Xbox 360 and PC. The game is the sequel to the epic fantasy RPG called Divine Divinity.

Divinity II - Ego Draconis combines action-packed, varied gameplay with a deep, diverse quest structure that branches out into many directions, a world where every decision has a consequence on how the game proceeds.

In Divinity II: Ego Draconis, players find themselves once again in Rivellon, a timeless world full of awe and magic, shattered and frightened by the apocalyptic wars of the past. No one knows why so many people had to give their lives. Everything seems to be over, but the peace was deceptive, for the demon has returned and the horror once again runs its course.

Players begin as a Dragon Slayer, hunters whom travel the countryside determined to rid their lands of Dragons. As the story of Divinity 2 — Ego Draconis unfolds, the player will discover new abilities and possibilities as they evolve into a legendary Dragon Lord. In addition, the player character’s abilities can be steadily improved over the course of the game and specialized in specific areas. The world of Divinity II: Ego Draconis is filled with humans and fantasy creatures, each having special combat abilities. Players will need to use every skill, potion and hidden trick to their strategic advantage to reclaim the lands of Rivellon.

Here’s the newest trailer for the game

SAW videogame’s PC version to be Steam-exclusive

The Konami-developed Saw videogame (based on the long-running horror franchise whose sixth entry hits theaters this Halloween) that was released on consoles will be exclusive to Steam for the PC version. Expect it at the latest on October 29th

This is because Konami will not be releasing the PC Saw port

developed by Zombie Studios) to retail stores. Something that Konami also did for the Silent Hill: Homecoming PC port, which was also a Steam exclusive

The SAW Videogame for Steam centers on Detective David Tapp who awakens in a decrepit, abandoned asylum. He has been captured by his longtime nemesis, Jigsaw. Obsessed with catching this serial killer, Tapp’s mission has consumed him and ruined his family, resulting in divorce, mental imbalance, and abandonment. Worse yet, this frantic hunt destroyed Tapp’s career while he watched his long-time friend and partner get killed by one of Jigsaw’s traps.

Now Jigsaw has the upper hand and has captured the de

tective. Tapp must play a deadly game—the likes of which he has been investigating for years—to escape, and in order to do so he must survive the lethal traps and puzzles that Jigsaw has put in place for him and others. But each victim has a dark connection to Tapp. Will Tapp save them? Can he survive his obsession to find the Jigsaw killer

Key features of Saw on Steam include

* Traps of Lethal Cunning - Jigsaw has laid out a gauntlet of torturous traps for a handful of innocents. Only you stand between them and the most brutal death imaginable. Think quickly and act! The clock is ticking.
* Choices of conscience - The player is forced to make difficult moral choices. Who lives and who dies in the game is determined by the player’s choices.
* Mysteries Revealed - Unanswered questions from the films are finally laid to rest. Gamers will discover the origin of Jigsaw and why he devoted his life to games, while also finding out what happened to the characters from the first SAW movie.
* Ecology of Terror - The asylum in which Jigsaw has trapped you is abandoned, but it is far from empty. It is a living world of horror populated by Jigsaw’s minions and the insane souls they torture… and they have no intention of letting you leave.

Here is a developer interview that sheds more light on the Saw videogame and how it ties into Saw VI the movie

Alien gameplay revealed in new Aliens VS Predator trailer

Although the game seems to be extremely similar to it’s predecessors, the alien gameplay nontheless looks amazing, not to mention the graphics!

Aliens vs Predator is an entirely new title for PC and high-definition consoles from acclaimed British developer Rebellion, the team behind the 1999 original PC gaming classic.

Bringing the most intense war between two of science-fictions most popular characters FPS fans, AvP delivers three outstanding single player campaigns and provides untold hours of unique 3-way multiplayer gaming.

Experience distinctly new and thrilling first person gameplay as you survive, hunt and prey in the deadly jungles and swamps surrounding the damned colony of Freyas Prospect.

Here is the new trailer

And if you missed it, here is the Aliens vs Predator Marine-reveal trailer

First God of War

Sony has released the first trailer for God of War Collection, which releases for the PlayStation 3 this November.

The Collector’s set includes upgraded versions of the PS2 classics God of War 1 and God of War 2, as well as a voucher code to download the E3 2009 demo of God of War 3!

Both games are completely remastered in full HD resolution for the first time and pressed to a single Blu-ray disc. Both critically acclaimed games will also include: Trophy Support and 2X anti-aliased graphics running at 60 frames per second for an ultra smooth gameplay experience on the PS3.

Here is the new trailer

Call of Duty: World at War 2 mentioned in latest OPM

The latest issue of Official PlayStation Magazine has an article mentioning Call of Duty: World at World 2.

The OPM article on page 20 is titled “The Secret Games of 2010.” It says the following about Call of Duty: World at War 2.

To quote: “Insider slips reveal three big names you can already pencil for the next year. Killzone 3 is reportedly deep in development, Insomniac’s Full Moon Show podcast hints at a project we can only conclude is Resistance 3, and a Treyarch employee’s online mentions a Call of Duty: World at War sequel.”

What do you think about a World At War sequel? Is 2010 too soon? Do you think that the game warrants a sequel?

I think a lot people want to see the Call of Duty series go in an entirely new direction or to a new war front. So I wonder if this really would be a direct sequel to World At War.

It’s an interesting development non-the-less. Also mentioned in the article for 2010 is Killzone 3 and Resistance 3, both already reportedly in development

Jurassic: The Hunted release date is November 3, 2009 on Xbox 360 and PS3

Activision has announced Jurassic: The Hunted with a release date of November 3, 2009 on Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and Wii.

The game is a first-persons shooter in which you fight dinosaurs! Or to quote the press release, “This is a relentless first person action game where you must fight for survival by scavenging for weapons, defending barricades, and battling titanic dinosaurs.”

The game is a budget title, so you shouldn’t go into it expecting too much. Although it certainly sounds cool enough.

Jurassic: the Hunted is an epic shooter set on a dark, mysterious island lost in time. Players assume the role of weapons and survival expert Craig Dylan, who has been hired to protect a research team studying the strange temporal energy of the island. Protection quickly becomes a fight for survival as Dylan is pulled back in time through the Bermuda Triangle and finds himself facing the most terrifying creatures in the history of the planet.

“Get ready to be the hunted,” said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. “In Jurassic: The Hunted players will experience nonstop, vicious dinosaur attacks coming from all directions – and these are massive beasts that don’t go down with a single rifle shot

Here is a trailer for the game

Doesn’t look too bad to me actually. I was a big fan of the classic Turok, wanted to play the new one too but never got around to picking it up. Might check this game out

New Wolfenstein release date is August 21, 2009

Publisher Activision has announced that Wolfenstein will be released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on on August 18 in America, August 19 in Australia, and August 21 in Europe.

The latest game in the long-running first-person shooter series, Wolfenstein seeks to bring the classic series into the current generation of powerful consoles while offering all of the hardcore Nazi-shooting action that players know, love and expect.

More on the game will be revealed in this Particle Cannon weapons trailer.

Mafia 2 and Red Dead Redemption delayed to 2010

The highly anticipated upcoming Take-Two titles Mafia 2 and Red Dead Redemption have both seen delays, as was announced at a recent shareholders meeting

The delays are to “allow for additional development time for the titles and to maximize their full potential in terms of the quality of the player experience and market performance”

Now both titles are planned for the first half of fiscal year 2010 which stretches from November of 2009 until April of 2010, so the titles could hit anytime during that window. And also means that either game could still come out during the all-important Christmas/holiday shopping season.

Although Take-Two’s line-up for this holiday is already pretty strong with games like Bioshock 2, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and Borderlands amongst others.

Via Joystiq

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 announced

Japanese publisher Konami has just announced that Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, the follow-up to PES 2008, will be available in retail stores this fall.

No specific details have been released by Konami yet, but Konami is apparently set to unveil “superior gameplay and incredible realism” in this latest game.

The new game has undergone a stunning graphical update to ensure its players look, and an expanded array of new additions will act to further bridge the gap between real football and PES on your PSP.

Also, players will have all-new options at their disposal during play to tailor the game to their own tastes, while new moves, innovative new control elements and key online elements will further the realism of the new game.

“We are committed to extending the realism of the new game with a wealth of key gameplay additions, and will produce a football title that truly embodies all the skill and pace that is good about the modern game,” says Jon Murphy, PES project leader for Konami.

In fact, we hope the PES vs. FIFA battle will hot up again with the new release because it’s that kind of competition that will hopefully force quality up and keep prices down.

PES 2009 will be heading to PSP, PS3, Xbox 360, PC and PS2. The last version came out during a different time frame on DS (and Wii) than on the other formats so it might still happen.

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